Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GGX 1084’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large daisy type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 50 to 55 days of short day length, bi color orange and yellow ray florets, moderate to compact growth habit and a postharvest longevity of an average of 35 days.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum grandiflora. ‘GGX1084’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘GGX 1084’ is a product of a naturally occurring,single branch mutation of the parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘GGX001’(not patented) which is an undistributed proprietary cultivar. Thenew cultivar was discovered and selected by Leo van Zanten in March 2003in Carpinteria, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘GGX 1084’ by terminal cuttingsand tissue culture was performed in Oxnard Calif. and CarpinteriaCalif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GGX 1084’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GGX 1084.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘GGX 1084’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumcultivar:

-   -   1. Large daisy type inflorescence;    -   2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming        consistently after 47 to 49 days of short day length;    -   3. Upright branching habit    -   4. Pink ray florets    -   5. Light green center disc coloration

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GGX 1084’are similar to plants of the parentvariety, ‘GGX 001’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plantsof the new cultivar ‘GGX 1084’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Shorter blooming response, the new cultivar blooms        consistently 3 days earlier    -   2. More ray florets    -   3. Disc coloration is more green in the new variety    -   4. Better post production longevity    -   5. More branches on average produced from a pinch

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Reagan’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 8,642.), ‘GGX 1084’ differs in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new cultivar has a shorter blooming response by 5 days    -   2. The new cultivar has a more consistent ray floret coloration        under high light and high temperatures    -   3. The new cultivar resists disc floret discoloration with age.    -   4. The cultivar is shorter by at least 10 to 20 cm when grown        side by side.    -   5. The new cultivar has a distinctive green center disc        coloration, which resists changing color with aging of the        plant.    -   6. The new cultivar has a longer vase life by approximately 5        days.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a close up of theflowers and buds of an 11 week old plant of ‘GGX 1084,’ showing theconsistent ray floret coloration at various ages of flowers. Plantsproducing flowers for the photograph were grown in a commercialgreenhouse with day temperatures average 15 to 28 deg. C. and nighttemperatures average 15 to 18 deg C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘GGX 1084’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the months of August through October 2004. Theplants were 11 weeks old. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to18° C. at night to 15° C. to 28° C. during the day. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum grandiflora cultivar ‘GGX    1084.’-   Commercial classification: Cut flower-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Height: Approximately 80 to 90 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 25 to 35 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Moderate upright branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 70 to75 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 30 to 40.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 50 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 9.7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 7.8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137C. Young            foliage under side: Near Green 138B. Mature foliage upper            side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green            137B.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Yellow-Green 146B. Venation color under side: Near            Green 137D.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 137C.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            13.5 hours, approximately 47 days of appropriate day length            required to induce and develop blooms.        -   Inflorescence form.—Daisy.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            12.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 5.7 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity in vase.—Approximately 30 to 32            days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per            inflorescence.—Approximately 20 to 25.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Red-Purple 62C.            Upper surface at maturity: Near Red-Purple 62D. Upper            surface at fading: Near Red-Purple 65D. Under surface at            first opening: Near Orange 27A tips with Red 54D base. Under            surface at maturity: Near Red 56C. Under surface at fading:            Near Red 56D.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 350.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Green 143C. At maturity: Near            Green-Yellow 1A. At fading: Near Yellow 6C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 7 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 20 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 137B.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Yellow 6B.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 15.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Width.—1.1 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137B. Under side: Near Green            137B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near 15A.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow 7A.        -   Style length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.        -   Stigma color.—Near 154A.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154A.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 2A.        -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow 6A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance cold/tolerance: The new cultivar has only been    observed under indoor conditions, therefore drought and cold    tolerance have not been observed.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GGX 1084’as illustrated and described.